BOSTON, MA (November 7, 2023) – The UMASS Boston Beacons volleyball team defeated the Keene State Owls in straight sets, taking care of business from Clark Gymnasium in the first round of the Little East postseason tournement. The Owls were no match for the Beacons, as they outscored their opponents in nearly every aspect of the box sheet.

The Beac's were led by the tandem of senior hitter Livia Trindade and sophomore hitter Lauren Westlund, who led the team in kills outright with 12 kills each off of nearly 30 total attacks from each hitter. Trindade also recorded two block assists as she helped anchor the Beac's on the receiving end of the Owl's attacks. Also recording two block assists was junior hitter Dylan Wertzberger, who also served up some trouble for the Owls as she recorded nearly a team-high of service aces with four.  Senior libero Ally Dean recorded the team-high of service aces with five total on the night, as she managed to mark a team-high 11 digs on the evening. Sophomore setter Ruby Ackermen was the primary playmaker for the Beacons, setting up a Beacon kill on 26 different occasions.

In the first set, it would appear as if this game would become one of runs, as the Owls would secure one to three points, and the Beacons would respond on a six-to-eight-point run. The Owls let the lead slip and the Beacons ran away with it as they secured the first set 14-25.

The second set became increasingly tighter for the Beacons, as the Owls would remain in striking distance despite the Beacons' spell of hot and cold streaks. With the score at 15 to 18 in favor of the Beacons in the second set, an Owls' attack error was the last straw for the Beac's as they ended the second set on an eight-to-one run. The second period ended with the Beacons outscoring the Owls 25-11. 

The third set initiated with back-and-forth scores as the two teams remained relatively close to begin the third set. The Beacons, now up two sets, were able to jump to a short lead and maintain it, until the Owls came back from down 11-15 to snatch a two-point lead. The Beacons would have none of it as they only led the lead slip by three points before retaking the lead. The end of the game finished very much like the start of the third, back and forth between the two teams, with each point tightening the tension around the Owl's season, before ultimately the Beacons were able to send them home back north. The final score of the third period was 16-25 in favor of the Beacons.

The UMASS Boston Beacons will be back in LEC postseason action on Thursday against the one-seeded UMASS Dartmouth, as they hit the road to the Tripp Athletic Center to take on the Corsairs in the LEC semifinals. Live stats and video coverage will be available at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com)